N.J. Admin. Code § 7:15-9.2

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 21, November 4, 2024

Section 7:15-9.2 - Project Priority System and Project Priority Award List

(a) Each year the Department shall develop a Project Priority System that establishes the project category priorities for watershed management grants for that year.

(b) The Department shall publish a notice of availability of watershed management grants in the New Jersey Register, identifying the Project Priority System, application requirements, and deadline for submittal of applications. This notice shall additionally be posted on the Division of Watershed Management's web site (www.state.nj.us/dep/watershedmgt).

(c) Unless otherwise specified in the notice of availability, the Department shall, in general, give priority to the following watershed management activities:

1. The initial establishment of watershed associations and/or stakeholder groups to support watershed management planning activities;

2. Watershed management activities identified as a priority action in a adopted Watershed Management Area (WMA) Plan;

3. Watershed management activities identified by a PAC as a priority action prior to adoption of a WMA Plan;

4. Watershed management activities that are designed to address documented water resource problems or issues of particular concern in a subwatershed, watershed or watershed management area, as indicated in the Statewide Water Quality Inventory Report prepared by the Department pursuant to Section 305(b) of the Federal Clean Water Act ( 33 U.S.C. § 1315(b)) , or a characterization and assessment of water quality and water quantity report prepared by or for the Department, or other Department-approved sources of assessment;

5. Watershed management activities conducted in partnership with other watershed management groups or other entities or interests other than those participating in the applicant's watershed management group;

6. Monitoring and/or modeling activities designed to support the development, implementation and assessment of TMDLs for waterbodies listed on the most recently approved Water Quality Limited Segments (WQLS) List;

7. Watershed management activities to be conducted for an entire watershed management area or areas; and

8. Development of watershed or subwatershed management strategies.

(d) Each year, the Department shall develop a Project Priority Award List for projects determined to be eligible for funding based on the Project Priority System. The list shall be submitted to the Legislature for consideration and approval in accordance with 7:15-9.5.

N.J. Admin. Code § 7:15-9.2